Ei-iE

Peter Marshall / Demotix Images
Peter Marshall / Demotix Images

Trade union rights are human rights

Trade unionists are far too often subject to attacks by repressive governments. Every year, many are subjected to violence, arrest and imprisonment, torture and even murder. Trade union leaders in education are targeted by non-democratic governments who seek total control of education, and deny teachers and education support personnel their rights.

Even in democratic countries, many education workers are denied the right to join unions and/or engage in collective bargaining. Where bargaining exists, limits on its scope can be imposed. Moreover, teachers and education support personnel are denied the right to strike.

Education International also supports the right of students to organise and join the fight for more inclusive and democratic communities.

Working closely with our member organisations, other global unions and human rights networks, we use supervisory mechanisms at the national, regional and global levels to ensure rights and standards are respected and social dialogue is effective.

Solidarity actions among our global membership are a powerful tool to advance rights everywhere.

Our work in this area

  1. News 9 October 2018

    25 Lessons on Education and Democracy

    On the occasion of World Teachers Day, October 5th, Education International presented ‘25 Lessons on Education and Democracy’. The 25 lessons learned are linked to the 25 years of the existence of Education International.

    25 Lessons on Education and Democracy
  2. News 1 October 2018

    Stop the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy harmful to children and their families!

    Education International has endorsed the complaint lodged by United States (US) trade unions concerning the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy systematically and forcibly separating immigrant children from their parents, for the purposes of prosecuting parents for “illegal entry” in the country.

    Stop the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy harmful to children and their families!
  3. News 24 September 2018

    Francophone education unions, the driving force of democracy, the guardians of public education and union solidarity

    At the 16th Meeting of the Comité Syndical Francophone de l’Education et de la Formation (Francophone Trade Union Committee for Education and Training), the Education International General Secretary, David Edwards, called on all French-speaking affiliates to defend democracy, human rights and trade union rights, to fight privatisation, and to strive...

    Francophone education unions, the driving force of democracy, the guardians of public education and union solidarity
  4. News 12 September 2018

    Netherlands: Red is still the colour of primary education!

    The Dutch educators’ Code Red action demanding decent salaries and a normal workload, and urging the government to clearly and firmly address burn-out and a shortage of teachers in primary education has continued with a strike covering South Western regions of the country.

    Netherlands: Red is still the colour of primary education!
  5. News 7 September 2018

    UK: education unions express concerns about student and teacher’ wellbeing on the release of GSCE results

    The release of this year’s results of the GSCE, the certificate ending secondary education in the UK, have prompted teacher unions to criticise the latest governmental reforms in the education system, and express their concerns about student and educator health and wellbeing.

    UK: education unions express concerns about student and teacher’ wellbeing on the release of GSCE results
  6. News 6 September 2018

    Canada: insecure academic contracts are “major sources of stress”

    Most academic staff working on contract at Canadian universities and colleges aren’t employed on fixed-term contracts by choice, and job precarity is a major source of stress for academics, a survey of the Canadian Association of University Teachers shows.

    Canada: insecure academic contracts are “major sources of stress”
  7. News 29 August 2018

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!

    Education International (EI) launches a LabourStart campaign to request the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed Habibi and the respect of trade union rights in Iran.

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!
  8. Take action! 29 August 2018

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!

    Education International (EI) launches a LabourStart campaign to request the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed Habibi and the respect of trade union rights in Iran.

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!
  9. News 24 August 2018

    Statement to the G20 Education and Employment Ministers

    As the voice of the world’s educators, we welcome the inclusion of education as a priority for the G20, and hope the commitment to education will be ensured moving forward into Japan in 2019.

    Statement to the G20 Education and Employment Ministers
  10. Worlds of Education 23 August 2018

    #EI25: “When Ordinary People Demand Justice”, by Lily Eskelsen García

    Lily Eskelsen García

    Sometimes what touches us at an international meeting isn’t what’s on the agenda. It’s what was outside on the street. Sometimes it’s the crushing courage of tiny, fragile grandmothers who would not be stopped and who serve as an example to all social justice activists of what we are called...

    #EI25: “When Ordinary People Demand Justice”, by Lily Eskelsen García
  11. News 20 August 2018

    Kenya: delocalisation policy deepens teacher shortage

    The Kenya National Union of Teachers has called on its government to stop the delocalisation policy that has forced more than a hundred teachers to leave the profession act to close the national teacher gap, and stop the current teacher appraisal system.

    Kenya: delocalisation policy deepens teacher shortage